Officials search for person who shot, skinned a steer

APPLE VALLEY • Sheriff's officials are looking for the person responsible for shooting and partially skinning a longhorn steer in the Juniper Flats area of Apple Valley, officials said Thursday.

Deputy Danny Ritchea responded to a call about a dead cow Wednesday morning at the Juniper Flats Bureau of Land Management Grazing Allotment and found the steer had been shot, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Victor Valley station officials said.

Ritchea also noticed that the animal had been partially skinned, authorities said.

It is believed the animal was killed sometime between Saturday and Monday, sheriff's authorities said.

"This is not a common occurrence," Stella Hodson, spokeswoman for the Victor Valley station, said.

Investigators believe the persons responsible may have been scared off by off-roaders before they could completely skin the steer, sheriff's officials said.

The value of the year-old steer is estimated at $400.

Sheriff's officials are asking anyone with information about the incident to call Deputy Danny Ritchea at the Victor Valley station at 243-8720 or WeTip (800) 78-CRIME.